Last week Kateri Tekakwitha was canonized as the first
Native American saint. It has been an incredible blessing to be at a Catholic Indian
school during this time of celebration! There was an all school mass to
celebrate her canonization last week that spoke to the heart of my experience
here; the mass beautifully connecting native spirituality with catholic,
celebrating culture and the way of life here. There were students dressed up in
full Native regalia who danced in which the priest who was wearing a buckskin
vestment. Native drums and song filled the gym where were we were having mass.
Fr. Pascal, the pastor here, gave a beautiful homily about Kateri, a young
Native girl who loved Jesus and made difficult choices to be a good Christian
and follow her heart. I loved looking at all of my students and seeing what an
incredible example Kateri is for them. The life of a saint that resonates with
their own heritage is so meaningful. It was so moving to be a part of a Native
community, to be in a place where Kateri Tekakwitha is such a powerful symbol.
Some of the girls from the dorm helped prepare the altar, dancing with
incredible reverence to the altar, which was blessed by cedar smoke. I loved
every minute of the mass and it spoke to why I love it so much here, to be in a
community where faith is important and different spiritualties can work
together to connect people to creation and the Great Spirit. We sang a song
called Song at the Center with a beautiful chorus: “From the corners of
creation to the center where we stand, let all things be blessed and holy all
is fashioned by your hand. Brother wind and sister water, mother earth and
father sky, sacred plants and sacred creatures, sacred people of the land.” The
whole mass was full of blessings and seeing the whole community come together
in prayer and celebration was an awesome example of how great the St. Labre
community is. Once again I felt blessed to be at St. Labre and to be working
with Crow and Cheyenne students. I am so grateful that now we have a Native
American saint to ask for intercession!
